Useful Notes

Clair’s Useful Notes for Getting Around in London

This is an updated list with all the things you have asked about, plus the info I
have already forwarded. I hope you find it informative, but if you would like to ask
any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. — CH

Being Safe and Legal in London

The laws in the UK are similar to the US, so your usual law-abiding behavior will
be OK.

London is a reasonably safe city, as long as you follow your common sense. While not
as quiet as Charleston, we are not a raging hive of criminality (Don’t believe everything
you see in Guy Ritchie films). I have lived and worked in London my entire life I
have had my bag stolen once, ten years ago, in a non-violent crime. However, it would
be appropriate to warn you about not becoming a victim through ignorance.

Despite conflicting media reports here, it is not legal to use narcotics in the UK. Certain drugs have been downgraded, but not legalized.
It means you might not go to jail for a joint, but you may still get a heavy fine
and a criminal record.

It is also illegal to carry any kind of weapon in the UK. Guns, tazers, and knives are all prohibited.
You may carry a pocket knife with a blade of less than three inches, but we would
advise that you do not do so. London has substantially less gun crime than the US
as a result of our prohibitive laws, and you do not need to carry a weapon for your
own protection.

Ladies, be aware that mace and pepper sprays are considered weapons, and may not be
carried. If you want to have some kind of deterrent spray in your purse, carry a small
can of hairspray, or perfume — both will do the job.

Make sure your wallet or purse is safe, and beware of pickpockets on very crowded
tube trains. Don’t leave any bag unattended. Not only are you likely to have things
stolen, you may also cause a huge security alert. London has more than three decades
of experience in working against terrorism, and your bags will be removed and destroyed
first, and questions asked later. Equally, if you see anything you feel is suspicious,
please don’t feel silly reporting it to an official. If you have any fears about terrorism,
rest assured that London is as safe as any large US city, and we have excellent security
services.

With regard to talking to strangers in bars, please exercise sensible caution. Do
not accept a drink unless you have seen it poured or the staff member has brought it
over without the sender touching it. Also, do not leave your drink with a stranger while you dance or use the restrooms. There have
been several incidences of people having their drinks spiked with narcotics inducing
extreme disorientation, partial/intermittent unconsciousness and physical weakness.
The result is the victim appears to be excessively drunk and incoherent, and unable
to prevent whatever the attacker chooses to do. The result is often a robbery or a
sexual assault.

Please note that men are the victims of this method of assault too. Sexual assaults
on men are being reported in greater numbers, as there are fewer stigmas attached
to male rape these days, so we have no idea if it is an increase in crime or reporting,
but it does happen.

If you plan to dance, buy a bottled drink and keep your thumb over the neck if you
stand around chatting. Do not leave a drink unattended and go back to it. It simply
isn’t worth the risk.

Many areas of London are well populated until very late at night, so you can usually
find safety in numbers if you are concerned. Policemen are approachable and helpful,
and all stations and bus depots are staffed should you need to ask for help.

The main thing to remember at all times is simple — use your judgment. If you feel unsafe or insecure, get away. Walk into a pub, a shop, an office. Walk
up to any uniformed official you see. If all else fails, knock on a street door of
someone’s house and ask if they would call you a cab. People in London are often perceived
as being a little unfriendly, but ultimately we will help anyone in a crisis.

To reduce risks of things going wrong and then getting worse, follow this advice just
in case any of your items get stolen or lost: Take photocopies of your passport, driving
license and air ticket. Add a sheet of notes containing your credit card number, the
Customer Services number for the card company and your booking reference for the airline.
Keep these in a safe place away from your cash and cards, and in the event that lose
anything, you have a place to start, and copies to help prove your identity.

Should you lose your passport, you need to contact the US Embassy at Grosvenor Square
— 020 7499 9000

Healthcare and Medical Insurance

You are advised to have travel insurance containing a good medical aid provision.
However, should you find yourself in need of urgent medical help, no National Health
Service hospital in London would turn you away. Those with insurance are asked to
give details for reclamation of costs, but those without are still treated in emergencies.

A walk-in doctor service is available at several locations for minor ailments or sicknesses.

Soho NHS Walk-in Centre1 Frith Street, Off Soho SquareLondon W1D 3QS

Open Monday–Friday 7.30 am–9 pm

Weekends 10 am–8 pm

A&E Departments

St Mary’s Hospital, Praed Street, W2 — 020 7886 6666

St Thomas’s Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 — 020 7928 9292

University College Hospital, Grafton Way, WC1E — 020 7387 9300

You can also call NHS direct for advice on 0845 46 47

In the event of a serious emergency requiring an ambulance (or Police, or Fire Brigade)
call 999 from any telephone without charge.

There are several dentists within a short walk of Gray’s Inn, should you require emergency
dental care.

Medical Needs

Drugstores are usually referred to as chemists or pharmacies and are often found inside
larger department stores, and health and beauty outlets (Boots and Superdrug are two
such shops). You can also find smaller independent chemists dotted around.

Unless you have a prescription from a UK doctor, no pharmacist will provide you with
any kind of drug that cannot be bought over the counter. You can buy cold and flu
remedies, basic painkillers (aspirin, ibuprofen), anti-histamines and the emergency
contraceptive pill amongst other things.

You may find that American brand names are not available in the UK. Make a note of
any generic medications, and a pharmacist will be able to help you identify the items
you need.

Things like insulin, beta-blockers and anti-biotics all require prescription. For
this reason, anyone on prescription meds should endeavor to bring sufficient supplies
for the duration of the trip. If a diabetic has problems bringing three weeks supply
of insulin, let me know and I will see what can be done. Basic prescription charges
are £6.50 per item, and prescriptions can be issued by GPs or emergency room doctors.

Public Transport Information

London offers extremely good public transport with extensive bus routes, a subway
system (the Tube) and taxis are available on a ‘hail and ride’ basis. Transport is
generally clean and reliable, though extremely busy at rush hour (8–9.30 a.m. and
5–6.30 p.m.) Everybody uses public transport in London.

Both London Gatwick and London Heathrow have excellent public transport links directly
into London, at reasonable cost. I have noted which train terminus is in which area
of town to help you decide your journey.

London Gatwick (LGW)

For those of you staying at Hampden House, the easiest way to travel will be the Thameslink
service from Gatwick to Kings Cross Thameslink (north central). Once there, you will
need to hop in a cab for the short trip to the House. It should cost about £10–15
(including fees for luggage) and a cab can usually take three or four people plus
suitcases.

For those staying in other areas — the Gatwick Express into Victoria (south central)
might be more useful — again, take a cab from the station to your accommodation. The
cab driver will know where you need to go!

The Gatwick Express allows you to buy tickets on the train and accepts credit cards.
All other train tickets must be bought prior to travel. Machines and ticket offices are
available on the station concourses.

London Heathrow (LHR)

Heathrow offers an express train service into Paddington Station (west) or has connections
directly onto the Piccadilly Line Tube (everywhere). Again, go with the cab!

Please feel free to contact me for specific travel advice.

Buses

Gray’s Inn is on several bus routes. Once your accommodation is settled, I will provide
suggested routes from each location.

London Underground

Gray’s Inn is on the Central Line of the London Underground. Again, suggested routes
will be provided.

This is fare information only:

Flat fare is £1.20 — whenever, wherever. (Payable to the driver or conductor, or purchase
from a machine).

A one-day bus pass costs £3.00, and give unlimited journeys.

A one-day travel card costs £6.00 and gives unlimited journeys on all transport.

Taxis

Licensed Black Cabs are the pride of London! The drivers are trained extensively and
have excellent local knowledge, and most are extremely friendly and helpful. Many
of them like to have a chat with their passengers, and can be a valuable source of
information if you get lost. During the day, prices are very reasonable for a ‘chauffeured’
trip through London, but be warned — fares increase substantially after 8 p.m.

Taxis available for hire have a lit sign on the top of the windshield. Simply stick
out your arm and wave them down. The driver will roll down his window, and you tell
him where you want to go. It is polite to do this before you get in, as it is his
choice to accept the fare or not. It is your choice to tip him or not. It is not obligatory,
and most cabbies do not expect it. I usually just round up the fare to the nearest
pound, or add a pound if the driver has been exceptionally friendly and helpful. You
do have to pay a small additional sum for large items of luggage.

Licensed cabs should always be used where possible. ‘Minicabs’ (private cars with
untrained drivers) can be ordered from private hire companies. This is safe and cost-effective
for pre-arranged travel.

Late in the evening in busy areas, unlicensed cabs often solicit or ’tout’ for business,
offering cheaper fares than Black Cabs. This is illegal. These are usually not associated
with any company, and are often unroadworthy or uninsured cars. I would advise that
you do not accept an unregulated minicab. Without wishing to scare anyone, I would
stress that lone travelers should not accept these under any circumstances. There
have been incidents of assaults and robberies on unsuspecting passengers, both male
and female.More information can be found on Transport For London’s website.

Public Transport Outside London

The UK has a fairly extensive rail and coach network. Prices and travel times are
reasonable, although you should always check for engineering works at weekends before
making a booking. Advice on rail travel can be found on Railtrack or you can call 08457 484950.

Tickets for trains must be bought from the station ticket office, or dispensing machines
prior to travel. It is an offence to travel without paying your fare, and is punishable
by a fine. You must have your ticket available for inspection, and larger stations
have ticket barriers. You do not pay extra for luggage.

Public Transport Outside the Uk

Anyone wishing to take a short break in France can utilise the many routes — a ferry
service leaves for the French coast almost every hour from Ramsgate, Dover or Folkstone,
or the Eurostar will take you from London Waterloo to Paris Gard Du Nord in three
hours. Try Eurostar for more information.

Private Transport

Car hire is best done through reputable agencies and is very easy to arrange online.
Try easyCar or search engines for deals. Remember that driving in Central London during the working
week incurs a £5 daily fee or ‘Congestion Charge’. Non-payment results in a £40 fine. See the website for payment details. Parking
in London is expensive and gas is exorbitantly expensive ($6 per gallon). To give
you an idea, the day parking fee is £16 at Gray’s Inn. Parking on a public street
is generally prohibited — you need to have a residential permit, or park near a meter.
Fines for parking illegally begin at £80.00.

Pay-as-You-Go Cell Phones

Professor McWilliams has indicated to me that some of you are interested in purchasing
cell phones. There are lots of retailers here offering good deals, and you should
be able to obtain a phone for less than £50 (with some airtime thrown in). However,
I would suggest that you try to keep on the same networks, as charges for calls and
SMS text messages can be cheaper that way.

Each network offers it own benefits, but T-Mobile and Orange are pretty good here.
Avoid the store ‘Phones-4-U’ at all costs. I have yet to meet anyone who had a good
experience there.

Exercise

Gray’s inn does not have a sports facility or gymnasium. We have municipal pools and
gyms for public use. Private gyms are expensive for day passes. The apartments will
be equipped with a ‘Yellow Pages’, which will have up to date listings of what you
can do in your spare time if you insist on being healthy. Because of the number of
available sites I will not list them here, but suggest you pick one in your local
area on arrival.

I am sure that many of you enjoy the glorious SC weather by going running. This is
generally safe in London (though colder) as long as you follow some basic rules; don’t
run through the unlit parks at night, stay on the running paths, and stick to well-lit
and populated areas.

Social Life — Drinking and Eating Out

Bars and pubs are pretty much everywhere. Legal Drinking age is 18 (21 in some bars).
Staff do not routinely ask for ID, but once asked you must produce it or you will
be refused service.

Beer is sold in bottles, pints and halves (half pint). Spirits are sold in standard
measures of 25ml, and lots of chain pubs do cheap double measures. For cheap eats
and drinks, Wetherspoons pubs are good value.

London has almost every type of food — China Town is great, Covent Garden has some
good Italian places, Asian restaurants are everywhere, Sri Thai is wonderful and the
Bombay Brasserie has the best curry in town. I used to go to a great Polish-Mexican
restaurant too — we cater for everyone’s tastes! You can get plentiful, cheap pub
grub (burgers, pies, fish and chips etc) at most pubs at lunchtime. Some do two-for-one,
or cheap deals if you select from certain menus. I think we have more sandwich bars
per capita than anywhere on earth and being near the City we have plenty of options
within a very short walk.

Coffee shops are everywhere, and you can grab breakfast from all of them. We have
cheaper options than Starbucks. Benjy’s does a large cup of tea or coffee for a pound.

Please remember if you ask for tea here, it will be served hot and with milk. We also
haven’t imported the free refill system on sodas, so don’t attempt to refill your
cup.

Food — Home Cooking

We have lots of supermarkets for home cooking. Sainsburys, Tesco and Waitrose are
the most common, with smaller stores like Budgens and independent shops useful for
emergency items. You might be able to organize internet deliveries — check with Hampden
House when you get there.

You could always skip the shops and try your hand at market shopping. Borough Market
(Fridays and Sundays) sells the freshest fruit and veg, meat and fish, Smithfield
Market is the largest meat market in town, Billingsgate for fish, and even the local
Leather Lane has some good fruit and veg stalls and a fantastic butcher. Market veggies
are also usually a little cheaper than supermarkets.

If you plan to work together on cooking then buying in bulk really does save you money.
I would suggest that you club together at the stores for basics like pasta, rice,
bread, spices and oils, and then visit the markets for veggies and meat.

Cheap Deals on Entertainments

Although most of you will not travel by train often, you might find that one person
investing £2.00 in a short train ticket could save more than £10.00 on entry fees
and £25.00+ on theatre tickets!

Tipping

This is not considered obligatory in the same way as in the US. It is usually considered
recognition of good service, rather than just a standard thing. Feel free, but don’t
feel obliged to do it. Be aware that some restaurants add a an ‘optional’ service
charge to the bill (usually 12%) and then still leave the gratuity spot blank for
you to add more. If it says optional charge, you can ask for it to be removed so you
can add your own amount.

Electrical Items

You may find that smaller personal items (shavers, hair dryers etc) do not work well
on UK voltage. Converters are available, but not always great. You can purchase most
small items cheaply at a store called Argos (two minutes from Gray’s Inn). I will
show someone where it is, and you can all line up to buy things, or buy a communal
item (coffee maker). Ask on arrival.

Dress Code

During the day, please wear smart casual clothes, and avoid denim if possible. For
evening dining at the Inn everyone is required to wear a dark suit (preferably black).
For dining in hall at lunchtime, smart casual is preferred for students.

Please remember to check the weather forecast before you pack. London weather is not like SC, and is notoriously changeable. I would advise that you include at least
one coat, an umbrella and a pair of good walking shoes in your suitcase.

Public Restrooms

Lots of large department stores have restrooms; all pubs and restaurants are legally
obliged to have them for customers. Usually referred to as Toilets or Lavatories,
the slang term is the ‘loo’. There are no attendants (mainland Europe has them), so
no tipping is necessary and you should have everything you need in there.

Language Barriers

England and America are two nations separated by a common language. Problems can occur
when someone has a strong dialect/accent and uses slang language. If in doubt, ask
what someone means, and don’t be surprised if someone asks you to repeat something
you have said to them.

The obvious example is the slang English term for a cigarette — it really is a fag.
There are a few potentially embarrassing ones out there, so mind your language!